Folding bed



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 1.

' C. H. BUOHER.

FOLDING BED.

No. 571,643. Patented-Nov. 17, 1896.

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

'G.H.IBUGHER.

FOLDING BED.

Patented Nov. 17,1896.

(No MadeL).

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UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn CLINTON Il'. BUCIIER, OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA.

FOLDING BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,643, dated. November 17, 1896. Application filed June 19, 1896. Serial No. 596,187. N model.)

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLINTON II. BUCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St-aunton, in the county of Augusta and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Folding Beds, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in folding beds, and has for its object to provide a device of this description which shall be cheap in construction, neat in appearance, easilyfolded, and when so folded the bedding will be entirely inclosed after the manner of a roll-top desk, therebypreventing the accumulation of dust upon said bedding, and when the bed is to be unfolded this is to be accomplished with little or no labor and entirely obviates the liability of the bed closing upon the occupants; and with these ends in view my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction and operation in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective of my improvement when closed and out of use; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the bed turned down and the top rolled back therefrom; Fig. 3, a

" cross-section of the bed when in the position shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a longitudinal section through the posts and rectangular frame.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A represents two posts or uprights, which are preferably composed of boards forming a hollow of sufficient size to receive the counterbalancing-weights, and between these posts is pivoted the rectangular frame B, which is of any desired size or design and forms the bedstead proper. The ends 0, which serve as the head and foot boards, have grooves D formed therein, and fitted in these grooves are the ends of the strips which compose the folding top E, said top being made in the well-known form in connection with roll-top desks. By this arrangement it will be seen that the top of the frame may be covered by drawing the roll-top E thereover, or it may be opened by forcing said top along the grooves until passing to the under side of the bedstead. The bedstead may be balanced so as to be readily brought to the vertical position shown in Fig. 1 in alinement with the posts by the weights F, which are attached to the inner ends of the cords G, passing over the pulleys H and attached to the brackets I, secured upon the bedstead,so that when the bed is swung upward the weights will descend within the posts and when swung open the weights will be swung upward in said posts.

For convenience in moving the bed about the room each of the posts are provided with feet J, having casters K, and if found desirable the posts may be connected by strips above and below the frame B, thus adding rigidity to the posts; also if found desirable the frame B may be made in section after the manner of an ordinary bedstead, so that the side rails can be moved therefrom, thus permitting the packing of the bed into a small compass for shipping or storage.

Any suitable mattress may be placed within the frame, and the latter may be provided with a spring-bottom, so as to be as comfortable as the ordinary bedstead. lVhen the frame B'is swung downward, the outer side thereof may be supported by suitable legs L, which are pivoted to the side rails, and when not in use may be swung parallel therewith, so as not to form an obstruction.

My improvement has many advantages, among which is the fact that it can be folded into a very small space in cross-section and by placing it against the wall it will occupy a very small amount of floor-space, and also the factthat the bedding may be arranged and the top drawn thereover, which will hold said bedding in its arranged condition and exclude dust and moisture therefrom.

As occasion sometimes requires the use of an ordinary bed for surgical operations, my

improvement is especially adapted for such use in that the legs L may be folded under, permitting the outer rail of the bed to swing downward into contact with the floor, thereby putting the bed at such an angle as to facilitate many surgical operations.

The exact design of the bed is immaterial, as it may be altered to a considerable degree without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. In a folding bed, two uprights, a rectangular frame pivoted therebetween anda rolltop adapted to be turned over the bed or forced under the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a folding bed, two posts having suitable feet, a rectangular frame pivoted between said posts, a roll-top guided in suitable grooves forrned in said frame, and legs L pivoted to said frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

The herein-described combination of the hollow posts A, a rectangular frame B pivoted between said posts, said frame composed of side rails and head and foot boards 0, said boards having grooves formed therein, a rolltop adapted to slide within said grooves, legs L pivoted to the rails of the bed, cords G attached to the outer rail of the bed, pulleys II over which cords run, and Weights F for counterbalancing the bed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The herein-described combination of the posts A, feet J having casters set therein, a frame B composed of side rails and head and foot boards 0, a rolling top adapted to be guided by grooves formed within said boards, brackets I secured to the outer edge of the frame, cords G attached to said brackets, pulleys H journaled Within the posts and weights F attached to said cords, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atfixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLINTON II. BUCI'IER. lVitnesses:

-S. S. WILLIAMsON, O. S. W. BARNES. 

